As you may know, generating action to respond to climate change is among the many things Green Map System does. Now, nearly four years since Superstorm Sandy disrupted our office for several days, we worked with local filmmakers to create:

BIKE READY

Framing how New York bicyclists responded in the aftermath of a disaster, this film is becoming a springboard for local preparedness. We hope you will take time to view this 4-minute film, and use the accompanying Guide so you can lead a #BikeReady project in your community too. This project is licensed under a 'copy left' Creative Commons license so you can adapt it as needed. Share it with bike groups, emergency planners and your municipality.

To support solutionary responses that reduce risks in communities worldwide, we created Chinese (Mandarin), Spanish and Japanese editions. All are on the same webpage as the English original, along with other resources to build resiliency, at GreenMap.org/bikeready. This video debuted at the New York Bicycle Film Festival, and has been shown in diverse community and university settings. It was created with support of our neighborhood’s ‘long term recovery group’, LES Ready.

Cycle daily for climate health, and in the spirit of mutual aid, get ready with Bike Ready!

- you are also invited to our Climate Week tour of renewables and biodesign on 9/23, linked below

We recently presented at Geo NYC, a terrific monthly exchange that draws about 100 mapping professionals (find it on Meetup.com, linked below). There, we shared progress toward diversifying the mapping platform options that Green Mapmakers can use to meet their varying goals and skills.

Civic Hall hosted our recent workshop, too, where members pitched in as we describe our process and future quest. We’ll soon be sharing more news on this with you, along with other news about our award-winning icons and engagement toolkit.

"As Green Map's Director, I was delighted to be recognized as a Lower East Side Community Hero, alongside a half dozen local luminaires". Wendy Brawer has worked in the community on cycling, green spaces and renewable energy, and our office has been based on the Lower East Side since inception". Later that week, Wendy was invited to the US State Department to meet Brazilian energy experts – her talk is linked below.

Later in June, our Bike Ready is part of the Bicycle Film Festival and other screenings. See this 4 minute film and use it to spark a conversation with your local bicyclists about organizing for emergencies. Cycling is the antidote to many of today’s challenging conditions!

Watch our social media for updates on more events this summer, including at the World Social Forum (Forum Social Mondial - fsm2016.org) in Montreal in August. And have a great season!

It’s the first day of spring, and a few blossoms herald welcome relief from winter’s grey chill. Regardless, 2016 has already provided a season for progress for Green Map System.

A retreat with our board of directors was especially satisfying as we consider practical ways to address current conditions, and meet our mission of supporting changing communities. We are always grateful for your donations that make it possible for us to welcome new projects on a continual basis, including most recently from Alaska’s Tanana Valley Watershed to Savannah Georgia, Natal Brazil to Madrid Spain, and beyond!

Our own mapping platform has been an important tool for hundreds of communities over the years, but today, with so many great mapping platforms alternatives available, this year, we are making test maps and exploring options. Check out our newest NYC Green Map, Hola LES, which is made on the CartoDB mapping platform. It’s embedded into the story of how it was made, which involved dozens of community members who joined us in considering the future of one neighborhood. Explore the map online, and if you are in NYC on May 7, join us for our Jane’s Walk, commemorating the 100th birthday of this activist who championed new community-based approaches to planning.

The season, our own Green Maps are on view in Women in Cartography exhibit at the Boston Public Library. With Earth Day just around the corner, Green Mapmakers will be taking part in events worldwide. Watch #GreenMap on Twitter to find out where to get involved! We hope you will make this spring one of action and for you and your community.

2015 was our 20th year as a PR service for the hometown environment. We are proud of the role Green Map System has played in support of our beautiful planet, her people and home places. Much more than maps have been made as our network shares knowledge and skills that contribute to community greening and resiliency across the board in 65 countries.

Help us make a 2016 climate wise turning point for communities, near and far!

In the wake of the Cop21 agreement in Paris, we’ll be starting off right, looking ahead with a New Year Board retreat. We'll also be welcoming new interns, from near and far. They will both give and gain much, as have the 125+ interns we have worked with to date.

Counter-Climate Change Media and Capacity Building

If we are to succeed in fulfilling the mandate of the new Climate agreement, communities worldwide must do more to reducing their footprint and restore waterways, gardens, production and habitats in ways that improve the health and sustainability of all of us.

Thus, the role of Green Map becomes more important. Our map projects have always brought complex issues down to the local level, contributing to healing of the only planet we will ever have.

We impact all global regions. Help us fulfill the promises of Paris and contribute in any way you can.

Wishing you the best for the coming year - may all the changes be in the right direction! Thank you from the entire Green Map network!

The season is off to an exciting start at Green Map System. We’re just back from working with great project leaders in Iceland and United Kingdom, where we delivered six talks and workshops.

While delivering a keynote address at the International Visual Methods conference at University of Brighton, our director encompassed many of the values of this multimedia form of community-engaged research. Wendy Brawer’s talk was captured as a ‘graphic recording’ by a talented Scriberia artist.

In addition to the packed conference workshop with our network partners from UVic (Victoria BC Green Map), CUPP and Community 21, Maeve Lydon, David Wolff, Nick Gant and Wendy also hosted a local community mapmakers exchange. 60 practitioners, researchers and professors took part.

In Bristol, a research and media network met at the University’s School of Art. Cornwall Green Mapmaker Dominica Williamson gave an outstanding presentation of her mapping explorations, ranging from patiently uncovering an archeological site, unlocking government data, and developing thoughtful biodiversity walks for young people. We also met with Steve Parry of the 4B's project (linked below) and community leaders in this, the 2015 European Green Capitol.

Our work is about people and about place. That’s why it was so moving to start this European journey surrounded by Iceland’s remarkable landscape. The entire country is featured on Nature.is, the website for the Iceland Green Map made by Guðrún Tryggvadóttir and Einar Bergmundurat. Events at Listasafn Museum and Solheimar EcoVillage drew surprisingly diverse audiences interested in our adaptable approach to climate health and sustainable communities.

While on the road, we have welcomed new projects from Chile to New Jersey, and beautiful new Green Map editions are informing communities from the US to South Africa. Our board is meeting frequently as we develop a solid vision for our 20th year. We’ll be sharing that vision with you soon. Our best wishes for Climate Week and harvest season!

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